To the Editor:
Nobleboro was founded by people of strength, grit, and a no-nonsense view of life.
In their book “Nobleboro, Maine – a History” Robert Dunbar and George Dow write in the book jacket, “Readers unfamiliar with Nobleboro’s past will be surprised at the richness of the fabric that the early settlers wove; a fabric that includes bold designs of the struggles to establish town, school, church, and a social life as well as to earn their daily bread.”
Dunbar and Dow write about the harshest of circumstances; none harsher perhaps than the bleak, dark winters endured in waiting for the inevitable spring. They write about the return of the alewives to “fight their way up the fishway stream into Damariscotta Lake.” Struggles still, but at least accompanied by warm sunshine.
Our town, and most likely yours as well, was created by workers who didn’t complain a whole heck of a lot. Even nature tells us to just get out there and do it. As I’ve aged I’ve learned the funny truth that honest work toward a goal many times results in hope and rebirth, and that’s really the name of the game. The gift to us becomes that wonderful feeling of self-worth combined with a sense of the future.
Spring is coming, Easter is coming bringing hope for eternity. The snow is melting and my crocuses are breaking through already. The ice on our lake is getting darker, and soon we’ll hear that ice break up, sounding sometimes like little bells tinkling around the edges, immediately followed by the loons calling.
There’s a time for political and philosophical differences of opinion, but for me – not today.
My mind is set on other things. Things that threaten to wear us down. Life is tough at times for you with illnesses, family issues, searing losses, and work is rarely easy – but spring is coming, Easter is coming. Nature knows it. We know it just as our town founders did while waiting out those long, tough winters.
Dow and Dunbar write that their book is a “testament to (Nobleboro’s) strength and courage.” This is true of the history of every town in this area, the history of our dear country, and it’s true of many of the men and women who surround us to this day.
Happy Springtime.
